Publication: The Cloud Imperative: Strategies and Practices from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Loading...
Date
2024-12-17
ISSN
Published
2024-12-17
Author(s)
Editor(s)
Abstract
This white paper also discusses the challenges ahead, such as closing the digital skills gap, navigating data localization requirements, and addressing the energy efficiency of data centers. An essential note for developing countries is that overcoming these challenges can be done with the right competencies and skills within a government's normal operations and budget. In conclusion, this white paper emphasizes that, if implemented thoughtfully, cloud solutions can be a catalytic force to build 21st-century governments that are more agile, data-driven, and responsive to citizens. To realize the potential of the cloud, developing country governments will need to adjust the KSA experiences to fit the context of their local cloud ecosystem and local governance. This paper is a part of a larger body of research created and distributed by the World Bank Group regarding the cloud agenda as a key element of public digital infrastructure (PDI). Ongoing research encompasses the enabling ecosystem required to facilitate cloud solutions, the economic implications of cloud migration, the sustainability of cloud solutions and data centers, and the legal and regulatory considerations that play a crucial role in determining the most suitable cloud service options.
Link to Data Set
Citation
“World Bank. 2024. The Cloud Imperative: Strategies and Practices from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. © World Bank. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/42551 License: CC BY-NC 3.0 IGO.”
Associated URLs
Associated content
Other publications in this report series
Journal
Journal Volume
Journal Issue
Collections
Related items
Showing items related by metadata.
Publication Government Migration to Cloud Ecosystems(Washington, DC, 2022)Migrating from legacy IT infrastructure and data storage to cloud services can yield enormous benefits for governments: it can save governments money; increase the integrity, quality, and speed with which they deliver services; and provide access to the most advanced analytical tools and cybersecurity features available. These benefits have spurred a shift by governments across the globe away from legacy information technology (IT) systems, and towards cloud solutions, including public cloud services.Publication Connecting Green Technology Entrepreneurs(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2016)In face of growing concern related to climate change, green technology entrepreneurs are critically needed to develop the businesses and ideas behind climate mitigation in developing countries - but they frequently collide with challenges endemic to such environments. The purpose of this study is to shed light on the role that connections can play in helping green technology entrepreneurs innovate and scale up in developing countries, so as to inform the design of new public sector programs. Green technology entrepreneurs in developing countries need connection platforms for people, ideas, business models, transactions, as well as membership of expert communities. This study shows how cheaper, quicker, and more efficient connections can be created among stakeholders of green technology innovation in developing countries. This is done through drawing insights from a variety of public and private programs that seek to promote connections between entrepreneurs in green technology and other sectors. The report is based on 14 case studies of different programs spanning more than 80 countries. The general findings are presented in part one and insights from the individual case studies can be found in part two.Publication E-GP Implementations : A Review of Business Models and Approaches(Washington, DC, 2009-11-01)E-procurement systems have become an integral component of procurement reform by governments around the world as they move to institute competitive and fully transparent procurement systems, and to address issues of corruption and transparency. This rise in demand for e-Government Procurement (e-GP) systems has created an innovative industry of technical products and business arrangements. To support the development, implementation and operation of e-procurement systems, governments have undertaken several different business approaches, from complete in house solutions to various types of third-party partnerships. Each implementation has its own set of benefits and business issues associated with it, which directly affect both the government and the suppliers doing business with the government. The purpose of the study is to identify the types of business arrangements used by governments; the benefits of these arrangements; how they may or may not affect the procurement process; the types of issues or perceived issues that have resulted from the business approaches applied; the contractual arrangements or policies that have been drafted to mitigate issues and ensure the integrity and security of the procurement process. The goal of this study is to continue expanding the World Bank knowledge base on e-procurement programs, approaches and solutions so that it can continue to assist organizations with the implementation and management of new and current government e-procurement initiatives.Publication Ghana Country Study : A Roadmap for the Strategic Application of Information and Communication Technology(Washington, DC, 2011-11)At the end of February 2011, the World Bank commissioned Balancing Act to assess the innovative Information and communication Technologies (ICT) applications already being used in the country, the impact of these applications, and provide recommendations on how these applications could be scaled up in the future. The study is part of a wider World Bank initiative to scale up the strategic application of information and communication technology in Africa. The study takes as its main assumption that ICT can provide a number of different ways that can help the social and economic growth of a country. However, it also looks at the interplay between things that ICT can make happen and the broader factors affecting Ghana. The structure of the report is as follows: 1) creating critical mass - the central argument; 2) the transition from infrastructure to services and applications; 3) the current state of ICT-enabled services and applications in Ghana; and 4) getting from here to there: actions needed to scale-up ICT services and apps. The methodology for this study has three parts to it: an examination of the African ICT roadmap; comparisons with Kenya and other countries; and the gathering of expert opinion both from the public and private sectors.Publication Republic of Tunisia : Information and Communications Technology Contribution to Growth and Employment Generation, Volume 2. Technical Report(Washington, DC, 2002-03)This policy note is the first of two volumes, drafted in conjunction with a more detailed technical report. It was prepared in response to a request by the Government of Tunisia for Bank assistance to formulate an ICT development strategy, in accordance with the targets set in the Government of Tunisia's 10th development plan. The policy note highlights current constraints to ICT sector development and proposes measures to eliminate them. It should be read in conjunction with the broader strategy report (volume two: technical report), which contains complementary data and technical information. The Government objectives were conveyed to the World Bank team in May 2001. The strategy is aimed at bolstering the country's emerging ICT sector and maximizing its ability to compete in local, regional, and global markets. In this context, the major objectives of the ICT strategy are to: (a) maximize the ICT contribution to growth and employment generation; (b) position Tunisia in the global ICT market; and (c) integrate ICT into the Tunisian economy. Indirect issues of the ICT impact on productivity and competitiveness are marginally treated in this note. The report compares the state of ICT development in Tunisia that of other economies, taking into account Tunisia's relative strengths and weaknesses in developing a competitive and robust ICT industry. The report outlines the pillars of a strategy and specifies measures to be implemented by the Government, the private sector, and other stakeholders.
Users also downloaded
Showing related downloaded files
Publication Poverty, Prosperity, and Planet Report 2024(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2024-10-15)The Poverty, Prosperity, and Planet Report 2024 is the latest edition of the series formerly known as Poverty and Shared Prosperity. The report emphasizes that reducing poverty and increasing shared prosperity must be achieved in ways that do not come at unacceptably high costs to the environment. The current “polycrisis”—where the multiple crises of slow economic growth, increased fragility, climate risks, and heightened uncertainty have come together at the same time—makes national development strategies and international cooperation difficult. Offering the first post-Coronavirus (COVID)-19 pandemic assessment of global progress on this interlinked agenda, the report finds that global poverty reduction has resumed but at a pace slower than before the COVID-19 crisis. Nearly 700 million people worldwide live in extreme poverty with less than US$2.15 per person per day. Progress has essentially plateaued amid lower economic growth and the impacts of COVID-19 and other crises. Today, extreme poverty is concentrated mostly in Sub-Saharan Africa and fragile settings. At a higher standard more typical of upper-middle-income countries—US$6.85 per person per day—almost one-half of the world is living in poverty. The report also provides evidence that the number of countries that have high levels of income inequality has declined considerably during the past two decades, but the pace of improvements in shared prosperity has slowed, and that inequality remains high in Latin America and the Caribbean and Sub-Saharan Africa. Worldwide, people’s incomes today would need to increase fivefold on average to reach a minimum prosperity threshold of US$25 per person per day. Where there has been progress in poverty reduction and shared prosperity, there is evidence of an increasing ability of countries to manage natural hazards, but climate risks are significantly higher in the poorest settings. Nearly one in five people globally is at risk of experiencing welfare losses due to an extreme weather event from which they will struggle to recover. The interconnected issues of climate change and poverty call for a united and inclusive effort from the global community. Development cooperation stakeholders—from governments, nongovernmental organizations, and the private sector to communities and citizens acting locally in every corner of the globe—hold pivotal roles in promoting fair and sustainable transitions. By emphasizing strategies that yield multiple benefits and diligently monitoring and addressing trade-offs, we can strive toward a future that is prosperous, equitable, and resilient.Publication Supporting Youth at Risk(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2008)The World Bank has produced this policy Toolkit in response to a growing demand from our government clients and partners for advice on how to create and implement effective policies for at-risk youth. The author has highlighted 22 policies (six core policies, nine promising policies, and seven general policies) that have been effective in addressing the following five key risk areas for young people around the world: (i) youth unemployment, underemployment, and lack of formal sector employment; (ii) early school leaving; (iii) risky sexual behavior leading to early childbearing and HIV/AIDS; (iv) crime and violence; and (v) substance abuse. The objective of this Toolkit is to serve as a practical guide for policy makers in middle-income countries as well as professionals working within the area of youth development on how to develop and implement an effective policy portfolio to foster healthy and positive youth development.Publication State and Trends of Carbon Pricing 2024(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2024-05-21)This report provides an up-to-date overview of existing and emerging carbon pricing instruments around the world, including international, national, and subnational initiatives. It also investigates trends surrounding the development and implementation of carbon pricing instruments and some of the drivers seen over the past year. Specifically, this report covers carbon taxes, emissions trading systems (ETSs), and crediting mechanisms. Key topics covered in the 2024 report include uptake of ETSs and carbon taxes in low- and middle- income economies, sectoral coverage of ETSs and carbon taxes, and the use of crediting mechanisms as part of the policy mix.Publication Business Ready 2024(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2024-10-03)Business Ready (B-READY) is a new World Bank Group corporate flagship report that evaluates the business and investment climate worldwide. It replaces and improves upon the Doing Business project. B-READY provides a comprehensive data set and description of the factors that strengthen the private sector, not only by advancing the interests of individual firms but also by elevating the interests of workers, consumers, potential new enterprises, and the natural environment. This 2024 report introduces a new analytical framework that benchmarks economies based on three pillars: Regulatory Framework, Public Services, and Operational Efficiency. The analysis centers on 10 topics essential for private sector development that correspond to various stages of the life cycle of a firm. The report also offers insights into three cross-cutting themes that are relevant for modern economies: digital adoption, environmental sustainability, and gender. B-READY draws on a robust data collection process that includes specially tailored expert questionnaires and firm-level surveys. The 2024 report, which covers 50 economies, serves as the first in a series that will expand in geographical coverage and refine its methodology over time, supporting reform advocacy, policy guidance, and further analysis and research.Publication Commodity Markets Outlook, October 2024(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2024-10-29)Commodity prices are expected to decrease by 5 percent in 2025 and 2 percent in 2026. The projected declines are led by oil prices but tempered by price increases for natural gas and a stable outlook for metals and agricultural raw materials. The possibility of escalating conflict in the Middle East represents a substantial near-term upside risk to energy prices, with potential knock-on consequences for other commodities. However, over the forecast horizon, longer-term dynamics—including decelerating global oil demand, diversifying oil production, and ample oil supply capacity—suggest sizable downside risks to oil prices, especially if OPEC+ unwinds its latest production cuts. There are also dual risks to industrial commodity demand stemming from economic activity. On the one hand, concerted stimulus in China and above-trend growth in the United States could push commodity prices higher. On the other, weaker-than-anticipated global industrial activity could dampen them. Following several overlapping global shocks in the early 2020s, which drove parallel swings in commodity prices, commodity markets appear to be departing from a period of tight synchronization. A Special Focus analyzes commodity price synchronization over time and considers the relative importance across commodity cycles of a wide range of demand and supply shocks, including global demand shocks and shocks specific to different commodity markets. It concludes that, while supply shocks were the dominant commodity price driver in the early 2000s and around the global financial crisis, post-pandemic price movements have been more substantially shaped by commodity-specific shocks, such as those related to conflicts.